Radio panel/instrument panel conflict

[Mickey]

Good morning! This is my first post here and it seems an excellent resource. I recently acquired a beautifully restored '69 FHC. There is very little that needs to done to this car. But it seems the very tight fit of the radio panel/surround obstructs the proper opening of the instrument panel and the fuse blocks cannot be accessed. Has anyone else had a similar experience and how was this issue resolved? Thanks!
Mickey

[christopher storey]

Welcome to the board !

Yes, it's a very common problem, which is more easily solved on an S1 car, by putting thumbscrews on the legend strip at the base of the drop-down panel, so the the strip can be removed in perhaps 20 seconds. This solution cannot be used on an S2, as I assume yours to be, and the real solution is to reduce the amount of padding etc under the radio console so that the console sits lower, at the level it was intended to adopt when the car was new. There is a lot of trial and error involved in this process

[Mickey]

Wow... very prompt response to my request. I had decided trimming the bottom of the surround is what would likely be necessary. Will I have to get behind the radio panel to removed the radio surround or can the surround be removed from the front? If from the front this will be easy... from the back, not so much.
THANKS for the reply!
Mickey

[christopher storey]

The surround should usually be secured by 4 nuts ( often dome headed ) on studs at the top and bottom of the forward sides of the radio console. Once these fastenings are removed, it is usually necessary slightly to splay the forward "wings" of the console to clear the studs, and the console should then be capable of being withdrawn upwards and rearwards

[malcolm]

Hi Mickey, and welcome to the forum! It's a great resource with some very knowledgeable people.
Some pics of your car would be good when you can get round to it.

[Mickey]

Hi Mickey, and welcome to the forum! It's a great resource with some very knowledgeable people.
Some pics of your car would be good when you can get round to it.

Thanks, Malcolm... will post pics soon.
Mickey

[Mickey]

Update: The radio panel/surround in my '69 series 2 FHC was fitted so tightly the instrument panel would not open. After removal of the radio panel for correction, I found the left hinge hex bolt from the instrument panel missing. Can anyone provide the size/thread ratio for a replacement? Thanks!!
Mickey

[tim wood]

This maybe what you need.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1670-Jaguar-XK ... 3054773089

Above is a US supplier you will be able to get them in the U.K. but I couldn’t at this time locate part numbers

Edit
Found it on SNG Barrett

https://www.sngbarratt.com/English/#/UK ... eBranch=UK

You may need the plastic top hat collar.

[Mickey]

Good evening... many thanks for the links. I ordered from SNG Barratt USA this morning. This forum is great!!
Mickey